2020 MINI Convertible Review

　　

2020 Mini Convertible Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　The Mini Cooper has always been a slightly odd duck compared with the rest of the market. Its small stature, bug-eyed headlights and undeniable charm speak to buyers looking for a break from the norm. And the convertible version takes things a step further with the ability to drop the top for sun-drenched freedom and fun. For 2020 the Mini Convertible is back, but many competitors are not — automakers have been quick to abandon topless vehicles of late. All of a sudden, the Mini Convertible is more distinctive than ever.

　　One look at the Mini Convertible makes it clear that utility and cargo space are not high priorities. It has a retractable soft top that eats into seating and storage room, and the rear seats are not suitable for adults. But exceptional handling ability is carried over from the hardtop version, and it pairs with small yet punchy engines to deliver personality on the road that's becoming more difficult to find.

　　Get past the relatively stiff ride and costs that quickly rise as you tack on options and packages, and the Mini Convertible will pack enough driving excitement to keep a permanent smile on your face. Former rivals such as the Fiat 500C and Volkswagen Beetle Convertible have come and gone, so the Mini Convertible finds itself alone in offering its blend of style and comfort at an attainable price.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Convertible drive? We tested the Mini Convertible in the John Cooper Works (JCW) trim. This should be the top of the heap, but it doesn't feel much more special than the S trim. Acceleration from 0-60 mph took 6 seconds in our test car, which is quick for a convertible in this class. The Mini's turbocharged engine makes plenty of torque but lacks the fun, high-revving character of the Mazda Miata's engine.

　　Panic braking from 60 mph yielded a best result of 119 feet, which is an average distance; we expected better. Most of the blame falls on the Mini JCW's somewhat narrow tires, which also limit its outright handling ability. We love its nimbleness, but less expensive Mini Convertible trims give you that as well.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Convertible? The expected stiff and sporty ride of a Mini is certainly present with the John Cooper Works version. While it's never unduly harsh, it can be jittery over less than smooth pavement. Our test car came with optional adaptive dampers, but we didn't feel there was enough of a difference between the Normal and Sport modes to warrant the extra expense. The front seats are supportive and comfortable, but rear seat passengers will likely complain about the vertical seat backs and lack of shoulder room.

　　The Mini's top looks and feels well constructed but it lets in a lot of ambient noise and road noise when driving at highway speeds. In fact, when we tested interior noise levels, we found it's barely louder with the top down than when it's up. The John Cooper Works center exhaust produces some nice burbles and pops but can drone over extended periods of driving at a constant speed.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The somewhat long doors have a nice weight and provide ample access to the front seats but don't make it any easier to get into the back seats. If adults can squeeze in back there — it's somewhat easier with the top down — they'll likely be touching shoulders. The driver and passenger will have plenty of shoulder room and a surplus of headroom, making the compact Mini feel reasonably spacious. The Mini Convertible's controls are fairly easy to understand and use.

　　The well-constructed folding cloth top sits more or less on the back of the Mini and, when down, blocks your rear visibility quite a bit. When it's up, there's decent visibility to the sides thanks to the tall windows and large outside mirrors. Visibility out the front is compromised because the rearview mirror takes up a lot of space on the narrow windshield.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? A lot of the Mini Convertible's tech is lifted straight from parent company BMW. This isn't a bad thing as the infotainment system is basically BMW's with a colorful, Mini-themed interface. It's easy to navigate and looks a bit more premium than some rivals. Navigation and voice controls work well and proved genuinely helpful in certain situations. Wireless Apple CarPlay is standard, but the lack of Android Auto is surprising given it's in most of the Mini's rivals. Our test car's Harman Kardon audio system was strong enough to deliver good quality sound over the Convertible's elevated levels of interior noise.

　　The adaptive cruise control works well and maintains tight gaps in traffic. We experienced no false alarms or overreactions from any of the other systems. But we were somewhat disappointed with the conservative tuning of electronic stability control, especially on a car that's supposed to be fun to drive. Thankfully, you can disable it.

　　

Storage

5.5/10

　　How’s the storage? It should come as no surprise that the Mini Convertible is not the most practical car. Its 7.6-cubic-foot trunk is small and not easily accessible. Ironically, the Mazda Miata's smaller trunk (4.6 cubic feet) is more practical and easier to use.

　　Interior storage is slightly better and there's enough space for one person's personal belongings in the cubby in front of the cupholders and the cupholders themselves. If you spring for the wireless charging, you will lose most of your center armrest storage. Child seat anchors are provided in the back seat but only the smallest booster seats are likely to fit without a lot of fuss.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Convertible JCW will return 28 mpg combined (25 city/33 highway) and our time with the Mini backs that up. Over our 115-mile evaluation route the drop-top Mini returned a solid 29.4 mpg with some fairly enthusiastic driving thrown in, just because. It should be noted that Mini recommends premium gasoline for the John Cooper Works Convertible.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Convertible a good value? In its John Cooper Works trim, we're inclined to say no. Our test car stickered at $46,250 (including destination fees), which puts it at nearly the same price as a Mustang GT convertible and at least$10k more than a similarly equipped Mazda Miata. The Mini is well built, with tight panel gaps and good quality materials, and feels more luxurious than other convertibles. But less expensive versions of the Mini, such as the Cooper S, are just as well built and perform nearly as well.

　　Standard warranty coverage is about average for the class, with both bumper to bumper and powertrain coverage coming in at 4 years/50,000 miles. But Mini also offers four years of roadside assistance with unlimited mileage and three years of free maintenance.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　You're effectively guaranteed a fun and nimble driving experience in the Mini Convertible. But the JCW trim doesn't offer much beyond what you'd get from a regular Mini. The extra power is nice, but the JCW isn't especially fast. And while it does have nimble handling, it doesn't feel any more engaging than a Cooper S model.

　　The quirky styling and detail touches that have come to define Mini are still there and serve as a nice visual reminder of how fun this little car will be once you're out of the weekday traffic jam. But at times it feels like it's been laid on a little thick in the JCW. We're all for the Mini driving experience, but we'd prefer ours in a more basic and less expensive spec.

　　

Which Convertible does zzdcar recommend?

To make the most of the top-down potential, give the Cooper S Convertible a whirl. It upgrades to the larger turbocharged engine and comes with sport seats. We recommend adding the Signature package for its heated seats and LED lights, though it's disappointing that you get neither navigation nor Apple CarPlay capability at its lofty price.

　　

2020 MINI Convertible models

The 2020 Mini Convertible is a two-door compact convertible with seating for four passengers. It's available in three trims: the base Cooper, the sportier Cooper S and the high-performance John Cooper Works.

　　The Cooper is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine (134 horsepower, 162 lb-ft of torque), while the Cooper S gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (189 hp, 207 lb-ft). Both models come standard with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. (Mini says a manual transmission is still available, but with delayed availability.)

　　The John Cooper Works upgrades the 2.0-liter engine (228 hp, 236 lb-ft) and equips the car with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission.

　　The Cooper starts with standard equipment such as air conditioning, a leather sport steering wheel, heated mirrors and washer jets, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and emergency SOS contact services.

　　Besides the gutsy engine, the Cooper S gets run-flat tires, three driving modes, and Performance Control brake-activated torque vectoring technology. Inside, sport seats, a John Cooper Works steering wheel, and a black checkered interior trim await.

　　At the top of the lineup is the John Cooper Works model. It gets a sport suspension and unique sport seats as well as the eight-speed transmission. A set of LED headlights with cornering lights come standard too.

　　Custom configurability is a hallmark of any Mini. You can easily create a Mini Convertible like no other through paint, stripes, wheels, upholstery and trims. But you must start the process with one of three trim packages.

　　Every model comes with the Classic package and its 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, faux leather upholstery, and the smallest and most basic wheel design. Moving up to Signature equipment tacks on heated seats, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED headlights and foglights, and larger wheels. The highest Iconic package has navigation and Apple CarPlay compatibility but no Android Auto. An upscale leather interior is also standard, along with fancier wheels.

　　

2020 Convertible Highlights

Type: John Cooper WorksConvertibleConvertible

　　Trim: CooperCooper SJohn Cooper WorksCooper

　　

Base MSRP	$28,400
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	31 MPG
Cost to Drive	$150/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	7.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles